Uttar Pradesh, home to the largest youth population in India, is experiencing transformative efforts by the Yogi Adityanath government to empower its young citizens. A key initiative is the Swami Vivekananda

Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana, (SVYSY) under which the government distributed 46.75 lakh gadgets —19.84 lakh tablets and 26.91 lakh smartphones — between 2021 and 2023. The scheme focuses on equipping students with essential skills to meet present and future challenges.

The government is also focusing on distributing an additional 13.14 lakh gadgets, comprising 12.94 lakh smartphones and over 20,000 tablets, to eligible students. Several districts have made remarkable progress, with eight achieving a 100 per cent distribution rate for smartphones. In tablet distribution, six districts have surpassed a 70 per cent allocation rate, while 10 top-performing districts achieved over 69 per cent allocation.

In line with Chief Minister Yogi’s vision, the state is not only distributing smartphones and tablets to empower its youth, but is also enhancing access to government schemes and monitoring various skill development courses through the Digi Shakti portal. Launched as a pilot project in 2021-22, this initiative aims to provide technical empowerment to the youth of Uttar Pradesh.

In the 2022-23 fiscal year, the Swami Vivekananda Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana was officially implemented, with a five-year plan to benefit undergraduate and post-graduate students, diploma course participants, skill development trainees, and those enrolled in paramedical and nursing programs at higher education institutions through the distribution of gadgets.

So far, eight districts have achieved a 100 per cent distribution target for smartphones, with two districts reaching an impressive 99.99 per cent. The districts that have excelled include Hardoi, Jalaun, Kannauj, Kasganj, Moradabad, Pratapgarh, Rampur, Unnao, Etah and Mirzapur.

In terms of tablet distribution, Sambhal leads with 79.31 per cent achievement, followed by Moradabad at 74.88 per cent, Bareilly at 74.05 per cent, Shamli at 72.47 per cent, and Saharanpur at 71.25 per cent.

Ghaziabad ranks sixth with 70.34 per cent, Pratapgarh seventh with 69.85 per cent, Gorakhpur eighth with 69.67 per cent, Hathras ninth with 69.58 per cent, and Bijnor tenth with 69.18 per cent.

The government is identifying districts with lower distribution rates for tablets and smartphones and is working to expedite the distribution process in those areas.